Soulmates

I've learned the importance of surrounding myself with good people and appreciating sincere friends. I know that they are blessing in my life and once in a while I do meet people I find myself naturally inclined to. And it's not often that I meet people I automatically click with. I'm sure you've experienced this too. It's a rare phenomenon which is hard to describe, right? Like they could be from another country and of a different culture, religion and upbringing but there's an unexplained connection that's there right from the start. I guess you could say I was in luck when I found an article which helped me to understand how this could be...

Photo credit weheartit.com

Do hearts have connections to one another? Sometimes, a person happens to meet someone whom he or she immediately loves and spontaneously develops some sort of affinity with. The reverse can apply when the same person meets up with another person. The point is one does not know the reason why one feels good toward some people and feels bad toward others. Is there some sort of connection between their souls?

`A'ishah, the Prophet's wife, narrated a hadith, that she heard from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which gives us a glimpse of the nature of the soul and clears some of the vague feelings that we might find:

"Souls are like conscripted soldiers; those whom they recognize, they get along with, and those whom they do not recognize, they will not get along with" (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

Also Abu Hurairah reported Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying,

"Souls are troops collected together and those who familiarized with each other (in the heaven from where these come) would have affinity, with one another (in the world) and those amongst them who opposed each other (in the Heaven) would also be divergent (in the world)." (Muslim)

What this hadith means is that Allah created souls and gave them their qualities. Those of similar qualities will easily be friends when they meet in this life, while those who have different natures are likely to be in conflict. This in fact accounts for endless cases of people getting along together when their apparent circumstances should have kept them well apart. Moreover, it tells us something about what brings good people together and what allows evil ones to flock together and even trust one another, when they know that they are evil at heart.

Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the hadith "Concerning the phrase 'Souls are like conscripted soldiers…',

This may refer to their similarity as regards good or evil, righteousness or corruption. Good people are inclined towards other good people, and evil people are similarly inclined towards other evil people. Souls feel affinity with others according to the nature in which they were created, good or evil. If souls' natures are similar, they will get along, otherwise they will not be on good terms with one another. It could have happened in the beginning of creation in the realm of the unseen when souls were created before bodies, and used to meet one another. When souls have entered bodies (come to the physical realm) they may recognize one another from the past, and may be on friendly terms or otherwise based on that past experience.

Al-Khattaabi also commented on this hadith,

This getting along with one another has to do with what Allah decreed from the outset about the ultimate destiny of souls, whether they will be among the blessed (in Paradise) or the doomed (in Hell). Souls are of two opposing kinds, and when they meet in this physical world, they will either love or hate one another depending on the way they were created. Good souls will be inclined towards other good souls, and evil souls will be inclined towards other evil souls.

Thus, the souls of righteous people have connection as if they are recruited due to the purification in their hearts...

That is why Allah says about the believers: And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts. (Al-Anfal 8:63)

[Abridged]

Excerpt from IslamOnline.net

Don't you think that's amazing? SubhanAllah. The human soul is quite a mystery but this actually makes sense to me. Soulmates do exist after all and it's not a matter of finding them or not, it's just serendipitous or simply fate when you do.

Comments

This is such an intriguing post!! Great Idea!! Love it. I genuinely mean that. lol
Aisha said…
wow, such an amazing post shahirah! i've never come across the hadith you mentioned and am in awe. love it, subhan'Allah!
Anonymous said…
I never would have guessed you find it more difficult to make friends, I imagine a social butterfly when I think of you :)

I do know what you mean though. I am also the type that can't just be friends with anyone.. It is always nice when we meet those soul mates though, isn't it? The women we just automatically click with.
Ditto on the previous comments Shahirah. I didn't know I was asking this question over the last few years until I found the answers in your blog post.

For me at least, you tend to make many 'acquaintances' in life but very few good friends, which is definitely a good thing regardless of the number of 'friends' your Facebook profile has on it!
Shahirah Elaiza said…
Charmed by the Star Filled Texas Sky: LOL, I know you do sweetie!

Ashi: Thanks hun! I just came to know about the hadith when I read the article. Cool innit?

heart/and/soul: Terima kasih =D Good friends are so hard to find these days so when I do meet one, I feel like it's such a blessing.

Sarah: Lol, I am kind of a social butterfly. Perhaps I should rephrase myself. I find it hard to find GOOD friends =) And as you said, when I do meet people I can connect with it's such a wonderful feeling.

The Hard-working Slacker: Hey dude! Yeah definitely more acquaintances and connections than friends in my life. People are more individualistic these days. Hence I cherish the good friends that I do have =)
Ikhlas said…
SubhaanAllah, this is amazing! I've heard these hadiths before, but couldn't remember their exact phrasing.
Thanks for sharing :)